International Development
At MIT, we look at the quality of our shared human future on Earth as a problem to be solved – a problem massively difficult but massively worth the solving. We are proud of our longstanding tradition of practical engagement, and we never stop asking what the world needs – and will need 50 years from now.
MIT offers rich opportunities for active participation in development
issues. Our current students run more than a dozen annual conferences
on development, building international networks and sharing lessons learned.
Our alumni meet pressing human needs through the establishment of new
companies and NGOs.
Read
students' blogs about their experiences.
View all international development and service opportunities in the database:
- Abdul Latif Jameel Poverty Action Lab
- Center for International Studies
- D-Lab: Introduction to Development
- Department of Urban Studies and Planning
- Global Entrepreneurship Lab (G-Lab)
- IDEAS Competition
- IDI Grants
- Kennedy Scholarship Program
- International Development Initiative (IDI)
- International Development Network (IDN)
- International Development Fair
- International Development Week
- Program on Human Rights and Justice summer internships
- MISTI
- International Migration & Humanitarian Studies
- Jerusalem 2050
- Persian Gulf Initiative
- Political Econmomy & Technology Policy
- Public Service Center
- Seminar XXI: Foreign Politics, International Relations & the National Interest
- Service Learning at MIT
- Special Program for Urban and Regional Studies (SPURS) Fellows
- University to University (U2U)
- World Economy Lab
- Read students' blogs about their experiences abroad.
Students may also choose to participate in research projects on global development on themes ranging from clean energy and healthcare technologies to novel educational methods and sustainable urbanization. Student teams participating in the extracurricular MIT IDEAS competition develop, prototype, and implement projects that will have positive impact in the world. The student-run MIT $100K Entrepreneurship Competition has just doubled the total prize fund by adding an equal Developmental Entrepreneurship/Social Impact category.
MIT’s mission is to bring knowledge to bear on the world’s great challenges, and our students, faculty, and staff do this with tremendous intensity and passion.



